Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/207

 ness and  impenitent  heart, treasurest up  to  thyself  wrath against the  day  of  wrath?

There is  more  reason  for thee to  fear,  for  thy  contempt of my  mercy,  to  be  delivered up to  a reprobate  sense, thenceforth entirely  to  follow the  desires  of  thy  own heart; and so,  when  thou  art come into  the  depth  of  sins, be a scorner,  and  thus,  at length,  become  unworthy  of mercy,  and  be  reserved  for justice only. The sinner  who forgot me  when  alive  and well, is  deservedly  punished in dying  by  forgetting  himself.

Say not,  therefore,  The mercy of  the  Lord  is  great, lie will  have  mercy  on  the multitude of  my  sins;  for mercy and  wrath  quickly come from  him,  and  his  wrath looks upon  sinners. Walk rather whilst  thou  hast  the light, that  the  darkness  overtake thee  not. And whatsoever thy  hand  is  able  to  do, do it  earnestly. Thou knowest  not  what  thou  wilt  or mayest  be  able  to  do  hereafter, when  thy  strength  fails thee. While thou  art  young, correct thy  way,  by  observing my  words. Behold, now is the  acceptable  time,  now is the  day  of  salvation. If thou neglectest  these,  thou art too  rash  in  promising  thyself more  time  for  penitence. A late repentance  is  seldom real, for  sins  are  then  rather forsakers than  forsaken,  because  the  power  to  sin  is  failing. How strange  is  it,  then, that thou  shouldst  venture  to risk  thy  salvation  on  so  uncertain and  doubtful  an  event, when, in  other  things,  thou seekest anxiously  for  the greatest certainty! I offer thee my  grace  now,  which, if thou  reject,  it  will  probably be  justly  refused  thee hereafter.

Oh, couldst  thou  but  know how dangerous  and  hurtful it is  to  receive  my  grace  in vain,  and  to  reject  me  when I call! Then wouldst  thou pant after  me,  like  the  hart for the  fountains  of  water; thou wouldst  labour  by  good works to  make  sure  thy  calling and  election. Do then now, what  thou  wilt  wish done then,  when  thou  canst  do it  no  longer,  and  wilt  exceedingly grieve  that  thou  hadst not done  when  thou  couldst; but then  thou  wilt  find no remedy  left  for  thy  grief. What things  a man  shall  sow, those also  shall  he  reap. The time of  sowing  is  this  life,  in death  will  come  the  time  of harvest;  then,  if  thou  hast sown of  thy  flesh  corruption, thou shalt  of  thy  flesh  reap corruption. Sow, then,  now in tears,  what  then  thou mayest reap  in  joy.

Understand this,  ye  that forget God; understand,  lest at any  time  he  seize  upon thee, and  there  be  none  to deliver  thee.

Behold, I have  left  the